Gauteng’s biggest car show

The Eleanor-look is increasingly popular on late 1960s Mustangs, honouring the famous movie car in Gone in 60 Seconds. Photographer: The Classic Car Show

The iconic Ford Mustang, named after a wild horse, is set to be one of the featured muscle-car marques at THE CLASSIC CAR SHOW, which runs from 8 am to 5 pm at the Nasrec Expo Centre, South West of Johannesburg, on Sunday, July 5, 2015.

Show organiser Paulo Calisto expects a turn-out of very special Mustangs to herald the debut of the forthcoming 2016 model which for the first time in South Africa will be on general sale through Ford dealerships here late in 2015, with the production of the first right-hand-drive model in the car’s half-century history.

“Mustang fever has never been higher,” says Calisto, and notes in the past five years of running the Classic Car Show he has been amazed that each year different Mustangs have arrived for this mid-winter event. “There’s a very strong club for Mustangs and there must be 100s out there that we aren’t even aware of, because more and more different examples keep appearing out of the woodwork.”

The Ford Mustang was the brain-child of the famous American automotive guru, Lee Iacocca, and its 1964 debut marked the advent of a famous line of so-called pony-cars from rival manufacturers that include the Chevrolet Camaro, Pontiac Firebird, Mercury Cougar, Plymouth Barracuda, and Dodge Challenger. All these examples of American muscle are expected to make their appearance at Nasrec.

“But there will be plenty of the bigger muscle cars too, of that era. I’m expecting at least three or four Dodge Chargers to arrive on Sunday,” said Calisto. And there will be a huge turn-out of customised pick-up trucks, ranging from the late 1930s to the early 1960s.

“Pick-up trucks are the latest big thing in custom cars,” says Calisto, who personally owns an early 1960s Chevy pick-up. “What I particularly enjoy is that there are so many different styles. Some guys go for the very low-dropped look, others favour the higher ride-height, and the paint schemes vary from dark traditional shades to ultra-wild. And then there the guys that build totally original pick-ups too.”

Whilst there has always been a strong American theme at The Classic Car Show, the event on Sunday July 5 will once again attract a large contingent of modified Volkswagen Beetles, buses and other European classics.

The Volkswagen Bus movement has been growing steadily with the early split window buses and vans being particularly prized amongst collectors, while the later Bay Window models are gaining popularity. The Beetle movement is as strong as ever, with all sorts of sub-genres within the classic air-cooled Volkswagen sedan finding favour amongst young and old.

Hot rods will be big again at the show, with various wild and whacky examples of the Rat Rod movement also expected to turn out at Nasrec.

There will be special muscle car displays inside Hall 5 at the venue, as in the past, while the big action will take place on the field alongside the showgrounds fun-fare.

Talking of fun, there will be plenty of entertainment for children, including helicopter rides at an affordable price. There will also be various rock bands providing a back-beat to the sound of rumbling V8s and roaring four-cylinder classics, and plenty of food and drink on sale.

Entrance for classic cars will be at Gate Two, and spectators at Gate 5. The Show opens at 8 am and runs through until 5 pm. Prices are R60 for adults and R20 for children under 12, with the drivers of classic cars admitted free of charge.

Classic Chevy pick-ups will once again be huge at The Classic Car Show on July 5. Photographer: The Classic Car Show

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About Alan Straton

My ethos is espoused in the words of Nelson Mandela: “I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

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